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Places To Visit In Singapore

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, on Tank Road, is one of Singapore's most beautiful and vibrant temples. Completed in 1859, it is also one of the oldest. Since the temple was built by the Nattukkotai Chettiyar community, who were Shaivas or worshipers of Lord Shiva, the temple is also often called Chettiyar's Temple. It is constructed in Dravidian, or South Indian style of architecture, whose highlight is the colourful roof, or the gopuram. The interior of the temple is large and spacious. The pillars and a part of the ceilings are done in a beautiful golden colour. The magnificence, and vibrancy of the temple led it to be gazetted as a National Monument in October 2014. Inside the Thendayuthapani Temple, the main sanctum houses the golden statue of Lord Murugan. Separate sanctums housing statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti, the parents of Lord Murugan, are also present. This grand edifice isn't the only gift the Chettiyars left for Singapore. They also introduced the festival of Thaipusam, held January, to Southeast Asia. On the day of Thaipusam, grand processions pass through the roads starting from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, on Serangoon Road, crossing several other Hindu temples, and finally ending at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. This procession is one-of-a-kind, and a must-see if you're in Singapore at the time. Read More

Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple is a Hindu Temple located on 555 Serangoon Road of Little India. It is dedicated to Vadapathira and Kaliamman deities, the female counterpart to the Brihadeeswarar Temple located in Thanjavur of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. People come to offer prayers to other Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Hanuman, Ganesha, Kuber along with other Hindu deities of Southern India in the Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple. Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple is a must-visit for those who wish to explore the Hindu religion of Southern India. Try to attend the early morning pooja and the evening pooja as it is a very divine and soul-soothing experience. Read More

Located in the heart of Little India, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is one of the oldest and grandest Hindu temples in Singapore. It is dedicated to Veeramakaliamman or the goddess Kali, the fierce embodiment of Shakti, and the 'destroyer of evil'. Built in the South-Indian Dravidian style of architecture, the spectacular Veeramakaliamman Temple is the nexus of the Hindu community in the Lion City. The words 'Veeramakaliamman' comes from the words 'Veerama', the original name of the goddess, Kali, attributed to her fierceness, and 'Amman', a Tamil title for one who attains godly status. At the Veeramakaliamman Temple, Goddess Kali is seen to represent both her ferocious side - wearing a garland of the skulls of her victims - and her soft, motherly side, as represented by the peaceful images of her and her sons, Ganesh and Murugan. The striking temple has been renovated several times, and now stands as a conserved building. The temple is most enchanting during the four daily pooja services. Read More

St Andrew's Cathedral

St Andrew's Cathedral is the largest and oldest Anglican cathedral and a Neo-Gothic architectural landmark standing magnificently in the Civic District of Singapore. With its white-stone walls, sky rising spire, lancet-shaped windows, intricate embellishments, and colourfully stained glass windows, St. Andrew's Cathedral is an awe-inspiring beauty. The stained-glass windows are dedicated to three gentlemen who played significant roles in Singaporean history - John Crawford, William Butterworth, and Stamford Raffles. Originally erected in the 1830s, the cathedral was closed and then demolished after it suffered two lightning strikes. It was then restored in 1856 and converted into a National Monument in 1973. St Andrew's Cathedral houses several symbolic objects that represent a fragment of the Anglican Church history in Singapore. While in the cathedral premises, guests are recommended to stop by the Visitor's Centre to know about the story of these symbolic objects, as well as other aspects of its history. The Visitor's Centre also houses several interesting artefacts. Read More

St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is an indie music extravaganza held every year in the Meadow, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore’s Central Area. The festival is a haven for rock-n-roll, alternative, electronic, and indie enthusiasts – the grooving music event sets the stage for a toe-tapping, hip-swaying evening against the Singapore skyline. What started out as a small backyard music festival in Melbourne, Australia, has now grown to international heights, featuring artists like Sam Rui, Aurora, Gang of Youths, Tourist, Tycho, Mick Jenkins, and many more across nine cities spanning five countries. Featuring a host of budding artists and international indie superstars alike, the Laneway Festival is one-of-a-kind – the ambience, entertainment lineup, and food options are unmatched in the country. Attended by more than ten thousand fans last year, Laneway is much-loved in the Lion City. While the 2019 festival was cancelled due to logistical reasons, it is set to come back in a bigger and better way in the years to come. Dates have not been announced yet, but eager fans are certain that the festival will be held in 2021, if not sooner. Read More

St John's Island Singapore

St. John's Island is a stunning island known for its chequered past and the former prison feel, located approximately 6.5 km south off of the main island of Singapore. The mesmerising sight is visited for the small patch of mangrove trees and turquoise water beaches used by the families for picnicking. It is also frequented for a spot of fishing. This, as well as its closeness to the main island, has made St. John's Island an ideal day trip from Singapore. Serving as a quarantine station for the immigrants during the 1930s, St Johns Island became a political prison and later a rehabilitation centre for the opium addicts. The prison-feel still lingers with barbed wire fences and watchtowers doting the island's landscape. Previously known as Pulau Sakijang Bendera, the island was the site of Sir Stamford Raffles' anchorage before the meeting with the Malay chief of Singapore in 1819. Since then, St Johns Island in Singapore has been famous for several other reasons such as the abundance of friendly cats that consider the island their home or the stunning hoards of dolphins that frequently visit the coast of the island. Read More

The Singapore Tyler Print Institute is a renowned international space for artistic experimentation in contemporary art through print and paper mediums. Located next to National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum, the STPI or Singapore- Creative Workshop & Gallery is an ideal place for such tourists that have a creative bent of mind and love exploring the world of art. It’s a non-profit entity that is dedicated to offering support to budding artists in creating modern artworks as well as to offer expertise in areas like printing. The STPI is Asia’s biggest print workshop contained in a commercial 19th-century building nestled within close proximity to the Singapore River. The place holds many spectacular exhibitions, programmes, fairs, guided tours and workshops that offer a great platform to discover various forms of art. Tourists coming at the STPI can expect to interact with artists and engage in panel discussions with them. Read More

Majestically standing in the historic district of Kampong Glam, the Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan) is Singapore's largest mosque and focal point of the Muslim community in the Lion City. Seemingly pulled out of the Arabian Nights, the enchanting mosque is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style, the highlight being the huge prayer hall topped by a shimmering golden dome. Both regarding its glorious appearance, and the sheer size, the Sultan Mosque is a must-visit if one is in the Kampong Glam district. Bringing with it the rich taste of culture and ethnic diversity of the Muslims of Singapore, Masjid Sultan was gazetted as a National Monument in the year 1975. It was built in 1824 for Sultan Hussein Shah, the first sultan of Singapore, with the help of a grant from Sir Raffles, the founder of Singapore. Today, it stands as a reminder of Malay royalty than once housed in the region. Non-Muslims are refrained from entering the main prayer hall at all times, while one is expected to dress modestly when visiting the Sultan Mosque. If visiting during the Ramadan month, make sure to check out the dazzling night markets in the area. Read More

The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is a two-storey museum located in Balestier, Singapore. The museum is dedicated to the life of the popular Chinese leader Sun Yat Sen, who is often considered the founding father of the Republic of China. Also known as Wan Qing Yuan, it is a national monument situated within the well-maintained villa that used to serve as the headquarters of Sun Yat Sen's Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, and it was here that he planned three uprisings. With its rich history and numerous exhibits, it is no wonder that this beautiful Peranakan style Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is a must-visit for all history buffs. Even those who are not drawn towards history can visit the villa for its lovely, sprawling gardens. There are over 400 artefacts in the Permanent Gallery of the museum. These include works of calligraphy, old paintings, sculptures, books and photographs; spread over five galleries in two levels. Almost all of these are dedicated to the incredible life of Dr Sun Yat Sen. The museum also has various displays about the Chinese community in Singapore, and how they helped Dr Sun Yat Sen in his endeavours. Read More

The Sundaram Tagore Gallery is a modernist contemporary art gallery located in the Gillman Barracks near Labrador Park. Founded in 2000 in New York, the gallery looks to explore the contrast and interactions between different cultures of the world with its interactive, post-modern exhibitions. The gallery in the Lion City specializes in Southeast Asian artists and their heritage. This venue is frequented by Singapore’s elite connoisseurs of art, history buffs, students, and curious tourists alike. Curated by the world-famous Sundaram Tagore – art historian and filmmaker extraordinaire who is descendant of Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore, this gallery looks into the East-West dynamics of today’s world and its many ramifications. The colonial architecture of the Barracks engages the visitors vividly, allowing them to fully appreciate the depth and meaning behind the pieces on display. With worldwide collaborations and cultural exchanges, the gallery hopes to provide a space to transcend boundaries and freely discuss ideas. With past exhibitions featuring artists like Poklong Anading, Nona Garcia, MM Yu, Golnaz Fathi, and Sohan Qadri, and a current exhibition titled ‘Migrations’ by American/British photographer Karen Knorr, Sundaram Tagore Gallery offers a lasting, powerful message to visitors, and puts Singapore on the worldwide art map. Read More